Derek McInnes has voiced his disappointment at the decision to lock out away fans from Celtic v Rangers league fixtures for the rest of the season, insisting derbies are “always better” with rival supporters in the ground.
The move follows the ugly flashpoints at Ibrox last season after a Scottish Cup tie between the clubs. In the build-up to next weekend’s Premier Sports Cup clash at Ibrox, Rangers had pushed for a reduced away allocation. Celtic knocked that back.
Talks with the SPFL then took the issue out of the clubs’ hands. The outcome is stark: no away supporters at any SPFL meetings between Celtic and Rangers for the remainder of the campaign.
McInnes, speaking at his Friday press conference, had only just seen the development scroll across the television screen when he was asked for his view.
“I noticed the news on the Sky ticker tape there,” he said. “First reaction is that it is disappointing that it has been made.”
The Kilmarnock manager was careful not to stray into club politics, stressing he had yet to discuss the matter internally.
“Without commenting too much because I don't know the club's position on it at the moment, I think it is more appropriate that the club speaks on it,” he added.
What he did make clear was his belief in what a travelling support brings to a derby. The colour, the noise, the needle. The edge that turns a big game into an occasion.
“It's always better when the opposition fans are allowed into a derby game,” McInnes said. “But whether that can be... there has still got to be behaviours met and obviously the decision has been made.
“I don't know, I haven't spoken to anyone at the club regarding that so I can't really comment any more than that.”
The Old Firm will go ahead in front of one-eyed crowds for now, stripped of the away end that once defined the fixture’s atmosphere. The football will still carry weight, the stakes will still be high, but the soundtrack has changed – and not everyone in the Scottish game is happy about it.
